Balloon having ultraviolet sensitive indicia and method of making same

ABSTRACT

A novelty balloon having ultraviolet sensitive indicia and including a front wall and a rear wall. The ultraviolet sensitive indicia may be disposed on the outer surface of the front wall, the inner surface of the front wall, or the inner surface of the rear wall. The indicia is formed of ultraviolet sensitive ink which may either be visible or invisible under regular lighting conditions. Thus, an image may be visible under ultraviolet lighting conditions which is not visible under regular lighting conditions. The balloon optionally includes a transparent portion in the front wall, through which the ultraviolet sensitive indicia may be viewed. An object may be contained within the balloon having ultraviolet sensitive indicia on its surface. The object may include a panel, a three-dimensional object, or a third balloon film layer sealed between the front and rear walls. A method of making such a balloon including using a separate ink deck in order to apply the ultraviolet sensitive ink to a surface of the balloon wall is also disclosed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to novelty balloons, and more specifically to a novelty balloon having indicia formed of ultraviolet sensitive ink and so-called “glow-inthe-dark” inks, and method of making same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Novelty balloons are currently available in a variety of shapes, designs, and sizes. LATEX balloons, as well as metalized balloons are available in various shapes, and having indicia printed onto the surface of the balloon walls as appropriate for numerous holidays, social expressions, and occasions. Such balloons can be inflated with either ambient air or a lighter-than-air gas such as helium to achieve flotation. LATEX balloons are formed of natural materials, and are desirably biodegradable.

[0003] LATEX balloons typically are formed of a continuous elastic wall. Metalized balloons, such as MYLAR balloons, are formed by sealingly engaging a front wall to a rear wall. Metalized balloons tend to contain helium for longer periods of time than LATEX balloons due to the dense molecular structure of the metalized wall preventing the escape of the small helium molecules.

[0004] It would be useful to make available balloons having novel unexpected and surprising features to provide further enjoyment and entertainment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a balloon having novel features which would provide entertainment by having different appearances under different ambient lighting conditions.

[0006] It is another object of the present invention to provide a balloon, whether MYLAR or LATEX, having ultraviolet sensitive ink printed thereon.

[0007] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a balloon having ultraviolet sensitive ink printed on its front surface, such as a secondary message or graphics, which is invisible under regular lighting conditions, yet visible only under ultraviolet lighting conditions.

[0008] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a balloon having a transparent portion in a front wall and ultraviolet sensitive ink printed on the inner surface of the rear wall of the balloon.

[0009] It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a balloon having a transparent portion and a third or inner balloon layer, or an object or panel within the balloon having ultraviolet sensitive ink or glow-in-the-dark ink printed thereon.

[0010] In accordance with the above objectives, a balloon is provided which assumes a different appearance under ultraviolet lighting conditions. As used herein, “ultraviolet lighting conditions” refers to conditions in which light rays having frequencies within the ultraviolet spectrum are present and reach the portion of a balloon which comprises ultraviolet sensitive indicia. “Regular lighting conditions,” as used herein, refers to conditions under which light having frequencies within the spectrum visible to the human eye is present and light rays having frequencies within the ultraviolet spectrum are not present to any substantial degree. “Ultraviolet sensitive ink” or “ultraviolet sensitive indicia” refers to ink or indicia, respectively, which is induced into an excited state at the molecular level under the presence of ultraviolet light such that it emits a spectrum of light which is visible to the human eye.

[0011] The balloon of the present invention is formed of either an elastic LATEX material or a metalized plastic film material. It is also contemplated that any suitable clear, transluscent, or opaque non-metalized plastic film materials may be used in the embodiments disclosed herein. One such material is metalized MYLAR film. As used herein, both are termed metalized balloons. A metalized balloon is made by printing indicia on lengths of material used to form one or both wall layers, forming a rear wall and a front wall by cutting a given balloon shape from the printed length of material for each layer, and sealing the two walls together along a peripheral edge of the walls. Indicia which is sensitive to ultraviolet light, such as ultraviolet sensitive ink, or so-called “glowin-the-dark” ink is printed so as to be positioned on a portion of the balloon. For example, the indicia may be printed on the outer surface of the front wall of the balloon. This may create several different visual effects. First, the indicia may be visible under regular lighting conditions, and may be enhanced under ultraviolet lighting conditions. Alternatively, the indicia may be substantially invisible under regular lighting conditions, and only visible under ultraviolet lighting conditions. It is also understood that ultraviolet light may be present along with visible light under certain conditions, such as in sunlight. In such a situation, the ultraviolet light may be overwhelmed or overpowered by the light in the visible spectrum, and therefore may not produce a noticeable visual effect. Such a situation is understood to be within the definition of “regular lighting conditions.”

[0012] Whether or not the indicia is visible under regular lighting conditions, the ultraviolet light sensitive indicia or glow-in-the-dark indicia may be used to enhance the images which are seen under regular lighting conditions. By “enhance an image,” it is meant that the ultraviolet sensitive indicia is located in the same area of the balloon that the non-sensitive indicia is located, or outlines or has a similar appearance as the image, all so as to further emphasize the image.

[0013] Alternatively, the ultraviolet sensitive indicia may reveal an image under ultraviolet lighting conditions which is not present or anticipated in the absence of ultraviolet light. This could take the form of a secondary social expression message and/or a secondary graphics design or image. It will be recognized that a source of ultraviolet light may be provided in the vicinity of a novelty balloon carrying the ultraviolet sensitive indicia, either in the presence or absence of regular lighting conditions. Thus, it is possible for the ultraviolet sensitive indicia to be activated, and become visible, both in the dark as well as in the light.

[0014] The ultraviolet sensitive indicia may be disposed on the balloon in various locations. It may appear on the outer surface or inner surface of the front wall of the balloon, or on the inner surface of the rear wall of the balloon. The ultraviolet light sensitive indicia may be visible through a transparent window or portion of the front wall, and it may be disposed on an inner film layer or an object or panel placed within the balloon.

[0015] Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1A is a front view of a balloon according to one embodiment of the present invention as visible under regular lighting conditions.

[0017]FIG. 1B is a front view of the balloon of FIG. 1A as visible under ultraviolet lighting conditions.

[0018]FIG. 2A is a front view of the balloon according to another embodiment of the present invention as visible under regular lighting conditions.

[0019]FIG. 2B is a front view of the balloon of FIG. 2A as visible under ultraviolet lighting conditions.

[0020]FIG. 3A is a front view of a balloon according to yet another embodiment of the present invention as visible under regular lighting conditions, showing a transparent region of the balloon.

[0021]FIG. 3B is a front view of the balloon of FIG. 3A as visible under ultraviolet lighting conditions.

[0022]FIG. 4A is a front view of a balloon according to a further embodiment of the present invention as visible under regular lighting conditions, showing a transparent region of the balloon and an object located inside the balloon.

[0023]FIG. 4B is a front view of the balloon of FIG. 4A as visible under ultraviolet lighting conditions.

[0024]FIG. 5A is a front perspective view of a balloon according to yet a further embodiment of the present invention as visible under regular lighting conditions, showing a transparent region of the balloon and a third balloon layer disposed between the front and rear walls.

[0025]FIG. 5B is a front perspective view of the balloon of FIG. 5A as visible under ultraviolet lighting conditions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0026] While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment, the balloon 10 of the present invention comprises a front wall 20 having an inner surface 30 and an outer surface 40. A rear wall 50 also includes an inner surface 60 and an outer surface 70. Ultraviolet sensitive indicia 80 is preferably disposed on the front wall 20. Alternatively, the ultraviolet sensitive indicia 80 may be disposed on rear wall 50 of the balloon 10. The ultraviolet sensitive indicia 80 is visible as viewed from a front perspective under ultraviolet lighting conditions.

[0028] The ultraviolet sensitive indicia 80, in one embodiment, comprises an ink that is visible under regular lighting conditions and enhanced under ultraviolet lighting conditions. This can include so-called “glow-in-the-dark” inks. In another embodiment, the ultraviolet sensitive indicia 80 is visible only under ultraviolet lighting conditions.

[0029] The ultraviolet sensitive indicia 80 preferably comprises ultraviolet sensitive ink. Suitable such ink may be purchased from Fluid, Inc. of South Plainfield, N.J. The ink has a drying time which is the same or similar to the drying time of inks conventionally used on metalized novelty balloons.

[0030] The ultraviolet sensitive indicia 80 is preferably disposed on the outer surface 40 of front wall 20 of the balloon 10. Alternatively, the indicia 80 may be disposed on the inner surface 30 of the front wall 20, such that it is visible through front wall 20. In order for the indicia 80 to be visible through front wall 20, front wall 20 would comprise a transparent portion 100 or a portion which may at least pass a small amount of light such that a noticeable visual effect is achieved under ultraviolet lighting conditions.

[0031] The indicia 80 may enhance a printed image 90, as printed on outer surface 40 of wall 20, which is already visible under regular lighting conditions. Alternatively, the indicia 80 may reveal a secondary image 85 which is visible only under ultraviolet lighting conditions. Furthermore, the ink may be either invisible under regular lighting conditions or visible under regular lighting conditions, yet enhanced under ultraviolet lighting conditions. Preferably, the ink is most visible under ultraviolet lighting conditions in which light in the visible spectrum is not present to any substantial degree. This permits visible light to show only the normal printed images, while the presence of ultraviolet lighting conditions also shows the hidden or secondary image 85.

[0032] In another embodiment of the present invention, front wall 20 comprises a window or transparent portion 100. This can take the form of a non-printed or clear portion 100, i.e., the remainder of the wall 20 is printed, but not at portion 100. The ultraviolet sensitive indicia 80 is disposed on the inner surface 30 of wall 20, or on the inner surface 60 of rear wall 50, and is thus visible from the front perspective of the balloon 10 under ultraviolet lighting conditions. Rear wall 50 optionally includes an additional transparent portion.

[0033] In a further embodiment of the present invention, not unlike the just prior embodiment, front wall 20 comprises a window or transparent portion 100. Here, an object 110 is disposed within balloon 10 and between front wall 20 and rear wall 50. The object 110 may be either substantially two-dimensional or substantially three-dimensional. Ultraviolet sensitive indicia 80 is disposed on a portion of the object 110 such that it is visible through transparent portion 100 under ultraviolet lighting conditions. Indicia 80 may also be visible through an optional transparent portion of rear wall 50.

[0034] In yet a further embodiment of the present invention, front wall 20, again, comprises a window or transparent portion 100. A third or inner balloon layer 200 is secured to at least a portion of at least one of the front wall 20 and the rear wall 50. Inner layer 200 comprises ultraviolet sensitive indicia 85, which is visible through transparent portion 100 under ultraviolet lighting conditions.

[0035] In any of the previous embodiments, balloon 10 may instead be formed as a LATEX balloon having a continuous elastic wall, in which a portion of the wall contained in one hemisphere is considered the front wall 20, or a front portion, and the opposing hemisphere is considered the rear wall 50, or a rear portion. The ultraviolet sensitive ink can be applied to the LATEX balloon's film portion, or to the sides, rear, or top of the balloon.

[0036] However, in the preferred embodiment, the balloon 10 comprises a metalized front wall 20 and rear wall 50, formed such as with an aluminum treated plastic film material, or a suitable non-metalized clear or opaque plastic film material. The balloon 10 may further comprise an associated streamer or banner 120 which includes additional ultraviolet indicia 130 contained on it, which indicia 130 is similar, or otherwise correlates, to the indicia 80.

[0037] The balloon 10 of the present invention is made by adding ultraviolet sensitive indicia 80 in the form of ultraviolet sensitive ink using a separate ink deck, i.e. printing deck. In the preferred embodiment, a balloon 10 formed of metalized film material is formed by the steps of applying non-ultraviolet-sensitive ink using a first ink deck (or set of ink decks) to an outer surface 40 of the film material to be used to form front wall 20, applying ultraviolet sensitive ink using a second ink deck to the same outer surface 40 of the same material for front wall 20, forming the metalized rear wall 50 having an outer edge 140, forming the metalized front wall 20 having an outer edge 150, and sealingly engaging the front wall 20 to the rear wall 50 along the outer edges 140 and 150 of the front and rear walls 20 and 50. In this manner, the two different types of inks, i.e. conventional balloon printing ink and ultraviolet-sensitive ink may be applied separately in a two-step printing process.

[0038] In an alternate embodiment, balloon 10 may be formed by a process wherein at least front wall 20 comprises a clear plastic film. Balloon 10 of this embodiment is formed by the steps of applying non-ultraviolet-sensitive ink using a first ink deck (or set of ink decks) to an outer surface 40 of the clear film material to be used to form front wall 20, leaving a portion 100 of wall 20 free of ink, applying ultraviolet sensitive ink using a second ink deck to either inner surface 30 of front wall 20, inner surface 60 of rear wall 50, inner third panel or object 110, or inner layer 200, forming the rear wall 50 having an outer edge 140, forming the front wall 20 having an outer edge 150, and sealingly engaging the front wall 20 to the rear wall 50 along the outer edges 140 and 150 of the front and rear walls 20 and 50. Alternatively, a glow-in-the-dark type ink cn be used instead of, or in addition to, ultraviolet-sensitive ink for any of these embodiments.

[0039] While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention, and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A balloon comprising: a front wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, a rear wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, and ultraviolet sensitive indicia disposed on the front wall or rear wall of the balloon, wherein the ultraviolet sensitive indicia is visible as viewed from a front perspective under ultraviolet lighting conditions.
 2. The balloon according to claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet sensitive indicia is visible under regular lighting conditions and enhanced under ultraviolet lighting conditions.
 3. The balloon according to claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet sensitive indicia is visible only under ultraviolet lighting conditions.
 4. The balloon according to claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet sensitive indicia comprises ultraviolet sensitive ink disposed on the outer surface of the front wall of said balloon.
 5. The balloon according to claim 4, wherein the ultraviolet sensitive ink, under ultraviolet lighting conditions, enhances an image which is visible under regular lighting conditions.
 6. The balloon according to claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet sensitive indicia comprises ultraviolet sensitive ink disposed on the inner surface of the front wall of said balloon.
 7. The balloon according to claim 4, wherein the front wall further comprises a transparent portion, and wherein the ultraviolet sensitive indicia comprises ultraviolet sensitive ink disposed on the inner surface of the rear wall of said balloon.
 8. The balloon according to claim 1, wherein at least the front wall comprises a clear plastic film material.
 9. The balloon according to claim 1, wherein at least the front wall comprises a metalized film material.
 10. The balloon according to claim 9, wherein the front wall and the rear wall comprise a metalized material, and wherein the front wall and the rear wall are sealingly engaged along outer edges of the front wall and the rear wall.
 11. The balloon according to claim 1, further comprising an associated streamer or banner having additional ultraviolet sensitive indicia printed thereon.
 12. The balloon according to claim 11, wherein the indicia of the streamer or banner correlates to the ultraviolet sensitive indicia on the wall of the balloon.
 13. A balloon comprising: a continuous elastic wall having an outer surface and an inner surface, the wall having a front portion and a rear portion, and ultraviolet sensitive indicia disposed on the wall of the balloon, wherein the ultraviolet sensitive indicia is visible as viewed from a front perspective under ultraviolet lighting conditions.
 14. The balloon according to claim 13, wherein the ultraviolet sensitive indicia is visible under regular lighting conditions and enhanced under ultraviolet lighting conditions.
 15. The balloon according to claim 13, wherein the ultraviolet sensitive indicia is visible only under ultraviolet lighting conditions.
 16. The balloon according to claim 13, wherein the ultraviolet sensitive indicia comprises ultraviolet sensitive ink disposed on the outer surface of the front portion of the wall of said balloon.
 17. The balloon according to claim 16, wherein the ultraviolet sensitive ink, under ultraviolet lighting conditions, enhances an image which is visible under regular lighting conditions.
 18. The balloon according to claim 13, wherein the ultraviolet sensitive indicia comprises ultraviolet sensitive ink disposed on the inner surface of the front portion of the wall of said balloon.
 19. The balloon according to claim 13, wherein the front portion of the wall further comprises a transparent portion, and wherein the ultraviolet sensitive indicia comprises ultraviolet sensitive ink disposed on the inner surface of the rear portion of the wall of said balloon.
 20. The balloon according to claim 13, wherein the wall comprises a latex material.
 21. The balloon according to claim 13, wherein the wall comprises a metalized material.
 22. A balloon comprising: a front wall portion having a transparent portion therein, a rear wall portion, an object disposed between the front wall portion and the rear wall portion, and ultraviolet sensitive indicia disposed on a surface of the object, wherein the ultraviolet sensitive indicia is visible from a front perspective of said balloon under ultraviolet lighting conditions.
 23. The balloon according to claim 22, wherein the object is substantially two-dimensional.
 24. The balloon according to claim 23, wherein said object comprises an inner balloon layer sealed to at least one of said front wall portion and said rear wall portion.
 25. The balloon according to claim 22, wherein the object is substantially three-dimensional.
 26. A method of making a balloon comprising the steps of: applying non-ultraviolet-sensitive ink using at least a first ink deck to an outer surface of film material to be used for the balloon front wall, applying ultraviolet sensitive ink using at least a second ink deck to a the outer surface of the film material to be used for the balloon front wall, forming a metalized balloon rear wall having an outer edge, forming a metalized balloon front wall having an outer edge, and sealingly engaging the balloon front wall to the balloon rear wall along at least the outer edges of the balloon front and balloon rear walls.
 27. A method of making a balloon comprising the steps of: applying non-ultraviolet-sensitive ink using a first ink deck to an outer surface of clear plastic film material to be used for the balloon front wall while leaving a portion of the film material free of ink, applying ultraviolet sensitive ink using a second ink deck to an additional surface, forming a rear balloon wall having an outer edge, forming a balloon front wall having an outer edge, and sealingly engaging the front balloon wall to the rear balloon wall along at least the outer edges of the front and rear balloon walls.
 28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the step of applying ultraviolet sensitive ink to an additional surface comprises applying ultraviolet sensitive ink to an object to be disposed between the front balloon wall and the rear balloon wall of said balloon, and further comprising the step of positioning the object between the front and rear walls of said balloon.
 29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the object is an intermediate balloon layer, and further comprising the step of sealing at least a portion of the intermediate layer to at least one of the front and rear walls of said balloon. 